Data backup redundancies are an essential part of keeping your business running smoothly. In the world of modern technology, your data is at risk of being hacked or lost daily. As new devices and software become available, businesses need to reassess their IT strategy to protect critical information from loss or theft.
At Erickson Dental Technologies, we understand the importance of data security and protection for your practice. That’s why we offer some of the best data backup redundancies, including online backups and on-site RAID protection.
This article explains eight reasons why you should implement data redundancies for your dental practice to allow yourself peace of mind when you are away from your office.
What Does Data Backup Redundancies Mean?
Data backup redundancies means utilizing multiple methods of backing up your data. It allows you to recover lost information in the event of any digital disaster. For example, if your PC crashes or is damaged by fire, both local backup and cloud storage could lead to the recovery of essential files.
Data backup redundancies are vital because they protect the information your business needs to function. Without a copy of your data, you could lose hours or days of critical work. In this situation, both time and money are lost with potentially no chance of recovery. It is also important to note that any data loss can lead to legal action if it is not backed up in several different ways.
How Can Your Dental Practice Benefit?
1. Protecting Files From Accidental Deletion
Backups are critical to any organization that relies on computer systems. A ransomware attack can delete files and folders, rendering them useless unless they have been previously backed up. If you have regular backups, you can quickly recover your data. It will save you time and money that would otherwise be spent recovering lost files manually.
2. Maintaining Access to Data During Disasters
Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes are unfortunately part of life in many parts of the world. These events can leave businesses without power for days, weeks, or even months. Some areas may not have electricity available for several weeks after a natural disaster. Having your data backed up off-site will ensure you can continue to work once the power is restored. Your business will remain operational during this time.
3. Keeping Data Safe During Network Maintenance
Sometimes your IT team will not be able to schedule downtime during regular business hours. Service disruptions are inevitable but have an even more significant impact outside of typical work hours. When this happens, services like email and internet access may become unavailable until the maintenance is complete and the systems come back online. Without an uncontested backup solution, your business data will be unavailable as well.
4. System Failure and Equipment Malfunction
Computers and other digital equipment can malfunction for a variety of reasons. A hard drive might fail after an accidental drop, or electrical wiring might spark and cause a fire in the server room. These events should be expected and prepared for because they will happen eventually. Your business continuity plan should include a backup that can be restored to working order quickly, minimizing downtime and preventing data loss.
5. Reducing Storage Costs
On-site storage can get expensive if you don’t have enough space to accommodate the amount of data that needs to be backed up. Off-site backups can be stored in a third-party location, reducing your storage costs and freeing up space on your internal drives.
6. Ensuring Compliance With Regulations for Businesses With Personal Information
Readily accessible data backups are critical if you need to quickly recover customer information in the event of a data breach. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), your dental business must have a documented plan for how patient data will be backed up and protected from loss or theft.
HIPAA is a U.S. privacy law enforced by the Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights (OCR). Fines for non-compliant companies can be up to $1.5 million per incident, so having a backup strategy in place is essential for any business with protected data on their systems.
7. Reducing Business Costs Associated With Downtime
Having backups in place reduces costs associated with downtime for businesses of all sizes. Lost time due to data loss is one of the most common reasons businesses are forced to shut down entirely until they can recover their system. Many companies do not have a strong enough business continuity plan to sustain their business through a data loss incident.
8. Maintaining Data Integrity
When data is backed up correctly, it should be the same as the original version. Any differences between an initial backup and a restored backup can indicate errors or potential corruption. Data loss incidents could even result from restoring from a faulty backup because it will overwrite any changes that have been made since the last successful backup was completed.
To maintain confidence in your data backups, you should:
- Implement multiple levels of redundancy and ensure that backups are verified
- Test your data restoration processes regularly to determine their effectiveness and determine what errors might prevent the restoration of your most critical business data.
- Verify that all software is correctly patched and updated with security updates and fixes.
- Perform regular security audits and implement processes to detect and prevent cyberattacks quickly.
Having a backup solution in place is one of the most overlooked measures businesses can take to protect their data. A strong business continuity plan provides an effective way to recover your systems quickly when disaster strikes, minimizing downtime and ensuring the integrity of your critical data.
Why Hire Erickson Dental Technologies
When protecting your business data, you cannot afford to cut corners. We help dental practices throughout the Lincoln area manage their backups with various solutions. We can work with you to install and configure a customized backup solution for your dental business. Our data protection experts will also assist with the ongoing administration of your backups, including regular testing and security monitoring.
Contact Erickson Dental Technologies today to learn more about how we can help you manage your backups to protect your practice from data loss and downtime.
